Guard recruiters under investigation

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Feb 13, 2014 at 5:26 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota National Guard confirms three recruiting assistants are under investigation in what the military describes as a widespread scheme to take fraudulent payments and kickbacks.

National Guard soldiers are accused of taking kickbacks for signing up new recruits. The scam involved the Recruiting Assistance Program, which paid soldiers and even civilians thousands of dollars for helping to enlist a new recruit.

The Star Tribune reports the Minnesota National Guard confirms three cases in which recruiting assistants are under investigation for improperly receiving cash benefits.

Since the referral program started in 2005, a total of 2,719 recruiting assistants received a cash payment from the Army for referring applicants to Minnesota Army National Guard recruiters.

A Minnesota Guard spokesman says the Guard is working closely with military and civilian authorities.

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